Gold or a platinum credit cards generally offer extra cardholder services including all or none of the following: However, as the credit card market has become more complex the terms have become blurred.Ĭredit card issuers now confusingly use 'gold', 'platinum' and similar terms for credit cards that are not only disappointingly bereft of extras but that aren't even trying to market themselves in terms of status and spending.īlack and, even more rarely, purple generally retain their status as the credit card colours of the seriously rich and well rewarded so let's focus on the considerably more confusing gold and platinum side of the market. Gold and platinum and, above them, black and purple credit cards have long been financial shorthand for products offered to consumers with high financial status - that is, large incomes and excellent credit ratings. Credit card colours are really useful for one-upmanship: 'Oh, you've got a gold card? Huh, I guess that's ok: I've got a purple card myself.'
